synthetic skating.

The best part about it all is it is practically in our own backyard.  At 6 bucks a pop, I see us going back again and again this holiday season. 

a recipe for Sunday.

add one showing of The Elf and countless holiday boxes being opened, made for one relaxing final day before heading back to reality tomorrow.

Don't you just love Davin's shiner?  good ole brotherly love!

thankful.

family practice.

Thanksgiving morning Coach Ancich invited all the players and their family's out to the field for practice followed by a team prayer and picture-taking time.  A great way to start the holiday...

minor miracle.

This truly never happens.  But it did.  I swear.

middle of the day.  middle of the week.  peace on earth.

it's not even december yet.

Fashion Island, Newport Beach.  biggest live tree ever.  hot chocolate.  the whole family into anthropologie (dangerously risky).  Avery pretending to be a flying squirrel through the Nike store.  decorations like no other.  just what we needed to get in the mood. 

dissection, origami, & butter.

5th grade got to dive head first into their science lesson this week.  Hunter's class used plastic knives to dissect chicken legs.  I have to say it was so much different than the preparation of a meal.  They had to peel, cut, and tear their way through the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even snap the bone to reveal the marrow within.

Per Hunter's request, that night for dinner, I made pasta...

Meanwhile, over in third grade, Davin's class celebrated business day.  Davin and his buddy Noah teamed up to sell origami creations, "surprise" bags, and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.  They did great marketing their products, selling their items, and counting back change to their customers.

It was fun to watch Davin "wheel and deal" his goods.

First grade opted for a simpler Thanksgiving celebration this year.  Avery's class got to churn their own butter and test it out on cornbread.  No feast just simple and sweet.

We are loving our days off together this week.  We are amidst round 2 of football playoffs and looking forward to practice on Thanksgiving.  Just one more reason we are appreciative this year.

christmas card outtakes.

Over the past 2 days I have been slowly shooting our pictures for this year's holiday card.  And although they warm my heart, here are a few that didn't quite make the cut. 

By the way, that handsome man in the red plaid shirt is the head coach of a First Place League Championship football team.  That is the face of a very happy coach on the day after... playoffs are up next.

Never a dull moment.

oldies but goodies

Found these in the trusty old Kodak Gallery archives and I'm so glad I did.
Hunter age 5, kindergarten.

Davin age 5, kindergarten

Avery as Annie, age 3, pre-school.